City need quick and decisive transfer moves

EXPECT A BUSY SUMMER AT THE TIGERS

- By BARRY COOPER

It's going to be another busy summer of transition at Hull City as the Tigers prepare to welcome a new head coach ahead of the new Championship campaign.

Sergej Yakirovic is primed to take over and replace Ruben Selles, who was sacked just under two weeks after the campaign finished at Portsmouth at the beginning of last month.

There will be no time for the Bosnian to relax after a busy end to the season in Turkey with Kayserispor, given the Super Lig campaign only finished on Sunday evening.

He will need to hit the ground running quickly with City keen to avoid repeating the lessons of the campaign just gone when they were caught sleeping last summer following the arrival of Tim Walter.

Key to ensuring they begin the campaign in fine fettle will be solving some of the issues that blighted their season under Walter and then Selles, but getting off to a quick start in the transfer market will be absolutely crucial.

They simply cannot afford to be left behind and then be caught playing catch-up.

The single biggest task facing owner Acun Ilicali, sporting director Jared Dublin and newly-appointed head of recruitment, Martin Hodge, will be adding goals to the side. City lost all bar a handful of goals last summer from Liam Rosenior's squad and they were never replaced.

City's 44 goals scored in 46 Championship games were the lowest in the league, and that is where they must find the answers to some very difficult questions. Adding quality in the top third of the pitch is not easy at Championship level, especially for a team who finished where they did and without the benefit of parachute payments, but that's what they must do.

Oli McBurnie remains a strong target, having held talks with the club in recent weeks.

Swansea are also keen on signing their former striker, while Sheffield United's failure to win promotion presents a very obvious threat and one the club were prepared for.